Steam condensation: putting surface tension to work

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Abstract

Since 1765, when James Watt conceived the idea of using a separate surface condenser in a steam
engine, the condenser has become an important component in steam power systems. Heat rejection in
the condenser is vital to a steam power cycle, and condensers are designed to reject heat at the
lowest possible vapor temperature (and therefore pressure) so that a high thermo-dynamic efficiency is achieved. In the last century, the surface condenser has evolved considerably as designers have understood more about the complex heat transfer processes which oc­cur when steam flows into
a bundle of water-cooled tubes.

Condensation of r-113 was studied using an evaporator condenser test platform. the condenser section contained four horizontal tubes (nominal outer diameter 15.9 mm)forming a vertical in line column with a pitch-to-diameter ...